Don’t Miss Out

You’re all set!

Look out for our weekly updates soon.

Connect with us

Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.

Sign up now for the latest news, top picks for your kids, and helpful tips.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's the story?

Fox Television's The O.C. (for \"Orange County\") has become known as a showcase for some of the most innovative new music around today. MIX 2 features music from the second half of the first season and the beginning of the second season of this wildly popular teen drama. Instead of looking to mainstream processed pop for inspiration, the producers of The O.C. use songs by emerging indie-rock artists to populate their soundtracks and help move their plots along.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

The idea is simple and brilliant; the show's young audience is exposed to wonderful new acts they might never hear otherwise, and the mix CDs are a musical breath of fresh air. This one boasts three exclusive tracks: Jem's drop-dead gorgeous cover of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" and Nada Surf's cover of OMD's "If You Leave" were both recorded for this series; there's also a live version of the Walkman's "Little House of Savages." An Interpol song, "Specialist," is only otherwise available on an expensive import. Other notable contributors include The Killers, Death Cab for Cutie, Super Furry Animals, and the Eels, whose guitar-fueled "Saturday Morning" kicks off the whole event.

Despite cutesy death references in some of the band names, most of the song lyrics are young-TV-audience safe and not disturbing, living proof that it is possible to write interesting songs without using words you're not allowed to say at Grandma's house. Liner notes fold out into a cute little poster. It's all good.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about the emerging and lesser-known musicians on the album. Point out to your kids that there is musical life beyond the Top 40, and enjoy this compilation. Then find everyone's favorite cuts and go get the latest releases from each of this CD's featured artists.

About our buy links

When you use our links to make a purchase, Common Sense Media earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes. As a nonprofit organization, these funds help us continue providing independent, ad-free services for educators, families, and kids while the price you pay remains the same. Thank you for your support.Read more

Get top media picks for your kid's age

Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.

Our Policies

Download our free app

Common Sense is the nation’s leading independent non-profit organization dedicated to empowering kids to thrive in a world of media and technology. Families, educators, and policymakers turn to
Common Sense for unbiased information and trusted advice to help them learn how to harness the positive power of media and technology for all kids.

The Common Sense and Common Sense Media names, associated trademarks, and logos, including the Decider Slider and Age Ratings Bugs,
are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (FEIN 41-2024986).